Koen Vincent Koning
"Sometimes I think I’m made of shadows—people get too close, and I just fade into the dark. It’s easier that way… safer, you know?"
Nicknames:
Ko, Vin
Name Pronunciation:
KOH-ehn , VIHN-sent , KOH-ning
Name Meaning:
Koen: Dutch ; “Brave”
Vincent: Latin ; “To conquer”, “Prevailing”
Koning: Dutch ; “King”
Gender:
Cisgender Male
Pronouns:
He/Him
Sexuality:
Bisexual
Age:
23
Moral Alignment:
Chaotic Good
Personality:
Koen is a quiet and introspective soul, someone who has learned to navigate the world with a certain stillness, as though his presence is meant to be felt more than seen. He doesn’t speak often, but when he does, his words hold weight. He’s the type to absorb the world around him – watching, learning, and quietly assessing before offering a single thought. His introspection isn’t born of a lack of confidence, but rather an ever-present wariness shaped by years of loss and trauma.
While Koen is typically reserved, there’s a magnetic pull to him that’s hard to ignore. His silence is not so much discomfort as it is a conscious decision to keep the walls around his heart intact. He’s the kind of person who can walk into a room, unassuming and unbothered, yet somehow everyone’s attention is drawn to him, whether they want it or not. He is used to being alone, finding solace in his own thoughts, but there’s always an undercurrent of longing beneath the surface. His emotional vulnerability is buried deep under layers of self-protection, and this makes his relationships, though few, intense and meaningful.
Despite his quiet nature, Koen is deeply compassionate, and his empathy is one of his most defining traits. He is the first to offer a helping hand when he sees someone in need, even though he often struggles to ask for help himself. His shyness, though not crippling, keeps him at arm's length from those around him, especially in romantic contexts. His hesitancy towards love stems from a belief that anyone he allows himself to care about will eventually be taken from him, as so many loved ones have been lost in his past. This trauma has made him wary of attachment, and yet he can’t seem to shake the pull toward human connection.
Koen also struggles with mild social anxiety, particularly in new or unpredictable social situations. He finds himself hyper-aware of how others perceive him, which causes him to shrink back when attention is on him, even if it’s not meant negatively. He also has a tendency to overthink and worry about how he might come off to others, which can make him retreat into his own head and isolate himself, even when he doesn't mean to.
Though he might not seem like the most socially driven person, Koen has a dry wit and a quiet sense of humor that emerges in the right moments. His sarcasm is sharp, and while it’s often self-deprecating, it reflects his deeply conflicted feelings about the world. He uses humor as a coping mechanism, a way to shield himself from the hurt he fears will come. But when the facade drops, those who are close to him know there’s a tenderness in his heart, even if he hides it behind a guarded exterior. He finds comfort in nature, often spending long hours wandering through forests or gazing at the stars at night, letting the silence of the world wrap around him.
Koen’s talent for art and graphic design is not only a career aspiration but a way to process his pain. Art is where he pours everything he cannot say into visual form, where his heartache, his dreams, and his fears are articulated through brushstrokes or pixels. He doesn’t see art as just an escape, but a way to make sense of the world and his place in it. He’s constantly learning, constantly searching for ways to grow creatively, though his self-doubt often makes him question his worth in the field.
Koen’s greatest struggle, however, is with his fear of loss. His ability to love runs deep, but the scars of his past weigh heavily on him. His romantic relationships are fleeting, and he often sabotages them before they have a chance to truly grow. He can’t help but believe that anyone he allows into his life will eventually be taken from him. The ghosts of those he’s lost haunt him – a constant reminder that love, in his experience, is always fleeting. His love is complicated, deep, and tangled in layers of grief and fear.
Voice & Accent:
Koen’s voice is deep and steady, with a slightly husky quality that adds weight to every word he speaks. It’s the kind of voice that demands attention, but he uses it sparingly. When he does speak, he often sounds tired, as if he’s carrying more than just his body through the world. His Dutch accent is subtle, especially since he’s lived in the United States for his entire life, but certain words will slip through with a distinctly European flavor. His accent is most noticeable when he speaks Dutch to himself or when he’s particularly emotional, letting his native tongue take over when he feels overwhelmed.
When speaking with others, Koen tends to keep his sentences short and deliberate, as if he’s carefully choosing each word. He avoids small talk, preferring to say something meaningful when he feels the urge to speak at all. His voice is often low, with a rhythm that feels like it could be lost in thought, even as he's talking. Though he’s quiet, when he does decide to open up, his voice carries the weight of everything he’s been through – the loss, the pain, and the moments of fleeting joy.
Appearance:
Koen’s appearance is both intimidating and understated, like someone who doesn’t crave attention but who demands it in the way he holds himself. Standing at an imposing 6’5", his height is the first thing people notice about him, followed closely by the quiet intensity in his eyes. His build is broad yet lean, with well-defined muscles that speak to years of physical labor and his devotion to maintaining strength without striving for the bodybuilder aesthetic. He carries his physique with a kind of graceful power, a silent but undeniable force that’s never flaunted. There’s something almost natural about the way his body is built – not out of vanity or deliberate effort, but out of necessity.
His features are angular, sharp in places and soft in others, a delicate balance between strength and vulnerability. His face carries the weight of his life – a combination of quiet sadness and resilience. He has high, sharp cheekbones that give him a distinguished look, and his jawline is angular, almost regal. There’s a faint five o’clock shadow along his jaw that adds a ruggedness to his appearance, a contrast to his otherwise gentle demeanor. His lips, though slightly fuller than most, are often set in a contemplative line, as if he’s constantly deep in thought. His eyes are his most defining feature. A bright, pale green that sometimes looks almost white in bright light, they are eyes that seem to see more than the surface – eyes that reflect both his past pain and a flicker of hope that he tries to ignore.
Koen’s hair is dark brown, almost black, and thick, with soft waves that fall just past his shoulders. It’s not styled in any particular way, and it tends to fall messily around his face. He doesn’t care much for the upkeep of his hair, allowing it to grow naturally, though he’ll occasionally run a hand through it to keep it out of his face. He often wears it loose, though when he’s working or running errands, he’ll tuck it behind his ears or wear it in a loose ponytail to keep it out of the way. Despite its messiness, it suits him, adding to the rugged, lived-in quality of his appearance.
His skin is fair, with just enough of a golden undertone to give him the look of someone who spends a lot of time outdoors. He’s not excessively tan, but there’s a warmth to his skin that speaks of time spent walking in the sun, despite his preference for the solitude of night. His hands are large and calloused from years of physical labor, a reflection of the survival mentality that has shaped his life. There are several faint scars scattered across his arms and torso, small marks of past injuries, some of which he can trace to his car accident – the one that took his partner’s life and left him with a permanent scar on his right neck.
Koen has a collection of tattoos, though they’re hidden beneath his clothing for the most part. They’re personal, each one a symbol of something significant in his life – the death of his brother, the loss of his partner, a tribute to his past struggles. His most noticeable tattoo is on his left forearm: a simple, minimalistic representation of a bird in flight, representing freedom and his desire to escape the confines of his own grief. The ink is dark, a sharp contrast to his pale skin. Despite the sadness that these tattoos represent, they are also a form of liberation for Koen – a reminder that even in the depths of despair, there is still something to hold on to.
His wardrobe consists of practical, comfortable clothes that are often worn and faded from use. His favorite outfit includes a vintage band t-shirt that’s slightly too big for him, often with the sleeves rolled up just above the elbows to reveal his toned arms. His denim jacket is his constant companion, worn and frayed at the cuffs and collar. The jacket has a certain weight to it – not just from the fabric, but from the memories tied to it. He’s had it for years, and it’s become as much a part of him as his tattoos. Underneath, he wears well-worn jeans that are ripped at the knees, a look that reflects both his personality and his disregard for fashion trends. His boots are sturdy, comfortable, and practical, made for long walks, whether on city streets or through forests. He also carries a small leather backpack, the straps worn from use, filled with his sketchbooks, art supplies, and a few personal mementos. Koen doesn’t dress for attention, but his attire is a subtle statement of his character – practical, rough around the edges, and imbued with memories of a life that has been anything but ordinary.
Backstory:
Koen was born in Chicago to a family that struggled to survive. The Koning family lived in one of the city’s toughest neighborhoods, and while they were surrounded by violence and poverty, they did their best to create a semblance of normality for Koen, his younger sister, and his older brother. His parents worked multiple jobs just to make sure their children had enough to eat, but it was clear from a young age that Koen would have to rely on himself to make it through life.
The city he grew up in was full of challenges. Poverty was a constant weight on his family’s shoulders, but it was the violence that marked his formative years. His neighborhood was a dangerous one, where drugs and gangs ruled the streets. Koen learned early on to be cautious, to keep his head down and avoid drawing attention to himself. But even with all the care in the world, tragedy was always lurking in the shadows. When Koen was twelve, he survived his first school shooting. He was lucky to make it out alive, though the trauma of that day stayed with him for the rest of his life. The sound of gunshots, the fear in his classmates’ eyes, and the chaos that erupted were memories he couldn’t escape. It was in that moment that he realized that life wasn’t guaranteed. That anyone, at any moment, could be taken from you.
Not long after that, tragedy struck again. Koen’s older brother, Lars, was caught up in a violent gang conflict. Lars had tried to escape that world, leaving behind the drugs and the violence in an attempt to build a life outside the chaos. But it didn’t matter. One night, while walking home from work, Lars was shot in the street. Koen was left to mourn the loss of his older brother, the person he looked up to. His grief was overwhelming, and it felt like his heart was being torn apart. In many ways, losing Lars marked the beginning of Koen’s slow retreat from the world.
In his late teens, Koen moved to South Carolina to attend college. It was an attempt to escape the crushing weight of his past, to build a future for himself away from the violence that had defined his earlier years. He made a few friends, but never let anyone get too close. The walls around his heart were thick, and he didn’t trust that anyone would understand the pain he carried with him.
In college, Koen met someone who seemed to break down those walls. They were kind, funny, and offered Koen a kind of love he’d never experienced before. He thought this might be the beginning of something real. They were planning a future, talking about where they would go, the things they would see. But, as life so often goes, that future was ripped away in an instant. Koen’s partner died in a car accident, and with them, Koen lost his belief that love could ever last. The accident left him with scars, both physical and emotional, and he withdrew further into himself, afraid to love again.
At 23, Koen is still in college, still working as a busser at a local restaurant, living alone in a dorm room in Irmo, South Carolina. He’s learned to navigate the world alone, but the deep sense of loss still haunts him. His nights are often spent staring at the stars, longing for a connection that he’s too afraid to seek.
Koen still carries the weight of his past. The shooting, the death of his brother, the car accident – they’re all pieces of him, each one adding another layer of grief that he’s unsure how to process. He wonders if he’s doomed to lose everyone he loves or if he’s just too afraid to let anyone in. Either way, he carries the past with him wherever he goes.
Strengths:
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Empathy: Koen is highly empathetic and can easily understand the emotions of others, offering a quiet, supportive presence when needed.
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Resilience: Despite facing numerous tragedies and challenges, Koen remains determined to keep moving forward, proving his strength in both body and spirit.
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Creative Talent: His skill in art and graphic design allows him to express his deepest emotions, providing an outlet for his grief and hope through visual storytelling.
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Self-Sufficiency: Growing up in extreme poverty and hardship taught Koen to rely on himself, and he’s learned how to navigate life without asking for help, even in difficult times.
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Calm Under Pressure: Koen has developed a quiet strength that allows him to remain composed during high-stress situations, especially when it involves others’ well-being.
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Physical Strength: His physique is both an asset and a result of years of hard work and resilience, providing him with a silent confidence in his body’s abilities.
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Loyalty: When Koen lets someone into his life, he is fiercely loyal and will do anything to protect and support those he cares about, even if it means sacrificing his own happiness.
Weaknesses:
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Fear of Intimacy: Due to past trauma, Koen is hesitant to open up to others, particularly in romantic relationships. He’s afraid of being hurt or losing someone again.
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Self-Doubt: He constantly questions his own worth, both in terms of his personal value and his artistic abilities, leading to moments of crippling self-criticism.
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Emotional Guarding: While deeply emotional, Koen tends to bury his feelings and isolates himself when he’s hurting, which makes it difficult for others to understand his internal struggles.
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Overthinking: Koen often overanalyzes situations, especially social ones, leading him to withdraw from conversations or avoid new experiences due to fear of being misunderstood.
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Isolation: His reluctance to let people close, combined with his fear of loss, often leaves Koen feeling lonelier than he lets on, and he struggles to build lasting connections.
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Trauma Response: His past trauma causes him to be hyper-vigilant and anxious in certain situations, especially those that remind him of past events like violence or loss, which can make him emotionally shut down.
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Difficulty Asking for Help: Koen’s pride and self-sufficiency make it hard for him to reach out for help, even when he desperately needs it, often leading to unnecessary stress or burnout.
Summer Month: 3 
Day 
